Device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two elements

ABSTRACT

A striplike adjusting key for varying the size of the bearing clearance between the adjacent surfaces of a slide carriage and a fixed guide block so as to be movable relative to each other at different degrees of friction or to lock them to each other. The key is substantially meander shaped by being provided with narrow transverse recesses in its opposite sides, and its ends may be pressed toward each other by tightening screws so as to cause a buckling effect whereby some parts of the remaining opposite longitudinal surfaces of the key are more or less pressed against the adjacent surface of the slide carriage and of the guide block, respectively.

Ilnited States Patent Rudol! Spieth 12 Kennenberg Str., D 7300 Esslingen (Neckan-Kennenburg, Germany 211 Appl. NO, 813,413

[72] Inventor [22] Filed Apr. 4, I969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, I971 [32] Priority Apr. 11, I968 [33] Germany [3| 1 P 17 50 244.2

[ 54] DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE SIZE OF A BEARING CLEARANCE BETWEEN TWO Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Attorney-Werner W. Kleeman ABSTRACT: A striplike adjusting key for varying the size of the bearing clearance between the adjacent surfaces of a slide carriage and a fixed guide block so as to be movable relative to each other at different degrees of friction or to lock them to each other. The key is substantially meander shaped by being provided with narrow transverse recesses in its opposite sides, and its ends may be pressed toward each other by tightening screws so as to cause a buckling effect whereby some parts of the remaining opposite longitudinal surfaces of the key are more or less pressed against the adjacent surface of the slide carriage and of the guide block, respectively.

DEVICE FOR'ADJUSTING THE SIZE OF ABEARING CLEARANCE BETWEEN TWO ELEMENTS The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two elements and especially between a slidecarriage and a guide way on a machine by means of a flat striplike adjusting key which is disposed between these elements and has two opposite wider sides at least one of which substantially engages with one of theseele ments.

It is an object of the present inventionto provide an adjusting device of the type as described above whichpermits the size of a clearance extending in a longitudinal direction between twoelements, and especially between a slide carriage and a guide block of a machine, to be very accurately and Another feature of the invention for attaining wide flat uniformly varied from a relatively large clearance to a very small clearance if any, or which may be adjusted so as to engage with such a pressure upon both elements that they will be firmly locked together.

According to the invention, this objectis attainedtby providing the adjusting key preferably in the form of a single strip of a suitable material which has two opposite wider longitudinal sides in which narrow transverse recesses are provided which extendin opposite directions to each other and are offset from eachother as seen in the longitudinal direction of the, key so as to form at least one intermediate transverse web, and have such a depththat the remainder of the material between the, bottom of each recess and the adjacent side of the key forms a slig'htlyresilient joint. The remaining outer surfaces of these wider opposite sides remain at all times substantially plane and, as long as no=forces are:exer ted upon the key to deform the same, these remaining surfaces of each of these sides-are disposed within a common plane which extends parallelto the common plane of the remainingsurfaces of the other side of the strip. For deforming the adjusting" strip, the'invention provides that compressive forces are tobe exertedthereon substantially in one of its'main directions and-especially initsslon gitudinal direction.

- Another object of;theinvention-is to provide such an adjusting key of a construction and shape which may be easily manufactured andto provide'very simple .meansfor'mounting such anadjusting key in-the;position in which it'is desiredand for manipulating it so as tocarry out the desired functiomfDe- -dinal alignmentwith each other and either-inengagement'with or'spaced from eachother. At least each ofthese adjusting strips may-beadjusted so asto'provide.atall timesa'uniform clearance between the two-elements, for'example, between the associated surfacesof a-guide.blockand-aslidecarriage and the entire adjusting key may extend along the entire length of the slide carriage. Even if this-clearance is adjusted so as to be very small, the adjUSIing key according'to the invention is designed-so .asto avoid any*scraping-'of'any of its v spartsontheguidexsurfaceor surfaces of'the guiderblock when the slide carriageorsimilarelement is moved along the latter; Another feature'ofthe invention consists in designingzthead justing key so that when compressed in its longitudinal 'directionthe ends2of its individual-longitudinal surfaces facing the associated .guid'e surfaces ofthe guide block will belbent slightly away from zthe latter and will thereby define a wedgeshapedgap-forholding.alubricant.

Accordingto another featureoftheinvention;the adjusting form at least two=intermediate transversewebsadjacentto each'other which .are spaced from each othercat a distance greaterthan .the width'ofthe'open endofeach of two recesses each other. These guide surfaces "may 'be made ofasoft material or be hardened or coated with a layer ofplastioorthe like. 7

keysisrprovided with aaplurality of transverse recesses so as to the guide surfaces of the guide block consists in designing the key-so that between two transverse webs which are separated by a transverse recess the keyis provided with a supporting part which, when the key is not deformed by being compressed in its longitudinal direction, has a height equal to that of thewebs. Consequently, when the key is compressed, the supporting part will not be deformed, and will therefore have a 'p'lane guide or gliding surface facing the associated surface of .the guide'block.

This supporting part is preferably made of a greater length than the otherparts of the adjusting key which are divided by transverse recesses, and the plane surface which is slidable along the guidesurface of the guide block and is formed by :this supportingpartand possibly also by the adjacent connecting parts which are defined by the bottoms of the recesses in the other side will therefore have a considerable width.

In order to improve the lubrication of the adjacent guide or glidingsurfaces'the invention further provides that the surfaces ofthe last-mentioned connecting parts of the adjusting key facing the guide surface of the guide block are slightly inclined relative to and away from this guide surface and together with the latterdefine pockets for holding a lubricant from which the lubricant may easily pass to the associated guide or .gliding surfaces.

Another important feature of the invention consists in clampingtheadjusting key in such a-manner that'the entire length of its-supporting surfaces facing the slide carriage will extendparallel to'its opposite guide or gliding surfaces. This may be attained by providing means for releasably securing the centralpart of the adjusting key to the slide carriage, by

ertedeither centrally upon the oppositeends of the key or at 'one'si'de of the longitudinalaxis of the'key.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing 'meansfor exerting an adjustable pressure in opposite longitudinal directions'upon'the'opposite ends of the key so as toadjust the clearance betweenthe key and the guide surface of the guide-block to arparticular desired size, and to provide additional means, preferably at the center of the length of the :key, 'for-expanding'the key inits longitudinal direction independently-ofand-against 'the action of thefirst means so that,

when theadditional means aretightened, the adjusting key.

will clamp the slide carriage rigidly 'to the guide block and when these additionalmeansare again released, the clearance as originally set'b-y the first meanswill be-reestablished and the slide carriagewill again beslidable-along the guide-block. For

this pt.irpose,it:is preferable to divide the adjusting key into two substantially coaxial sections of a substantially equal lengthand to insert a tightening element betweenthem which whentightened'from the outer side of the slide carriage, exerts a-wedgingaction upon theirinner ends so thatthe two sections will 'be'pressed outwardly and against the normal tightening means whereby an additional bucklingteffect of the two sections will be produced which locks the slide carriage to the guide block.

Afurtherfeatureof-the invention consists in partly fillingat least thetransverse apertures within'the-central area of the adjustingikey and-facing the guide surface of the guide block .with asealing compound in amanner so as to prevent any lubricant from escapinglaterally to the outside.

Theseandadditionalfeatures and advantages of thepresent invention will become further apparent from the following detaileddescription thereof-which is-to'be read with reference FIG. 1 shows an end view of a slide carriage, its guide block, and the adjusting means according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section which is taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an end view of a slide carriage, its guide block, and the adjusting means according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cross section which is taken along the line IV-IV ofFIG. 3; while FIG. 5 shows a cross section similar to that as shown in FIG. 2, but of a third embodiment of the invention in which for the purpose of illustration the clearance between the adjusting key and the adjacent surfaces of the slide carriage and the guide block is omitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a carriage l is mounted on a fixed guide block 2 of a machine so as to be slidable relative to the latter in a direction vertical to the plane of FIG. 1 by being frictionally connected to the guide block 2 by means of associated dovetailed surfaces on these two parts. At the left side of guide block 2, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a striplike adjusting key 3 is interposed between the dovetailed surfaces on carriage 1 and guide block 2. One end of this adjusting strip 3 abuts against a stop plate 4 which is secured by a screw 5 to the carriage 1, while at the opposite end of carriage 1 the adjusting key 3 is clamped thereto by means of a clamping plate 6 and a screw 9. The side of clamping plate 6 facing the carriage l is provided with a substantially central recess 7 between an outer projection 8 and an inner inclined projection 19. In its clamped position as shown in FIG. 2, the adjusting key 3 engages at one side partly upon the inclined supporting surface 10 on carriage l and at the other side partly upon the inclined guide surface 11 on guide block 2.

The adjusting key 3 is provided are one side with slotshaped transverse recesses 12 the open ends of which face the supporting surface 10 on carriage l, and at the opposite side with similar transverse recesses 13 the open ends of which face the guide surface 11 on guide block 2. The adjacent recesses 12 and 13 at the opposite sides of the adjusting key are separated from each other by an intermediate web 14, and

the central part of the adjusting key is provided between two adjacent recesses 12 facing the supporting surface 10 on carriage l with one recess 13 facing the guide surface 11 on block 2 so that two adjacent webs 14 are formed. At least the recesses 12 are made of such a depth that the small web 15 between the bottom of each recess 12 and the other side of the adjusting key 3 forms a slightly resilient joint. The different recesses 12 may be made of different depths and then also of different widths. It has been found to be of advantage to increase the thickness of the joints 15 from the center of the adjusting key 3 toward its opposite ends in order to prevent the guide surfaces 11 from tilting relative to each other.

Each pair of adjacent webs 14 may be separated by a bearing part 17 which, when the adjusting key is deformed and in a clamping position, has substantially the same height as the webs and insures that the parts of the key which are slidable along the guide surface of the guide block 2 form wide gliding surfaces. On its opposite outer ends, the adjusting key 3 is providing with end portions 18 each of which is provided with an inclined surface 19 which engages with and is acted upon by a wedge-shaped projection 19' on the stop plate 4 and on the clamping plate 6.

When the adjusting key 3 is in its uncompressed position, not shown, the outer surface parts of each of its opposite sides are disposed within a common plane. The adjusting strip serves for changing the clearance S which exists originally between its inner bearing surfaces and the'adjacent guide surface 11 on guide block 2 when key 3 is not compressed, to a final clearance S, if any. When screwsare tightened and a pressure is exerted by the wedge-shaped parts 19 on plates 4 and 6 upon the inclined end surfaces l9 of-the adjusting key 3, the latter will tend to bend to a shape substantially in ac cordance with the dot-and-dash line A'. This results in a buckling displacement of the parts at one side of key 3 which embrace the recesses 13 so as to bear against the carriage 1 and of the bearing parts 17 on the other side of key 3 so to bear against the guide block 2.

When compressing the adjusting key 3 in this manner, the parts thereof adjacent to the edges of recesses 13 will be bent so as to form inclined surfaces on which lubricating cushions may form. The lubricating effect may be improved by additionally inclining the surface parts adjacent to the edges of recesses 13 at a small angle and relative to the plane of the bearing parts 17 by slightly grinding these parts. In order to prevent losses of lubricant, the sides of recesses 13 may be closed by suitable sealing means so that these recesses will then form lubricant pockets. It is also possible to fill the recesses 13 partly or entirely with an elastic compound which is solid at a normal outside temperature.

By applying an additional force from the outside upon the clamping plate 6, by suitable means, not shown, the adjusting key 3 may be bent to such an extent as to lock the carriage l in a fixed position relative to the guide block 2. After this additional force is relieved, the original adjustment carriage 1 and guide block 2 will be reestablished.

According to the second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the associated surfaces of the slide carriage 20 and of the fixed guide block 21 of the machine are not made of a dovetailed shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but of a rectangular shape. This requires holding strips 24 to be secured to the lower side of carriage 20 by means of screws 25. Into the gap between carriage 20 and guide block 210 striplike adjusting key 3 is inserted which is provided with a longitudinal bore through which a clamping screw 27 extends, the head of which abuts against one end surface of the adjusting key, while the other threaded end 26 is screwed into the threaded portion 22 at the other end of the adjusting key. In FIG. 4, this adjusting key 3 is illustrated in the clamped or compressed position.

The different parts of the adjusting key 3 which are marked by the same numerals as those of the adjusting key 3 according to FIG. 1 and 2 also have the same purpose and effect as those of the key 3. The adjusting key 3' differs from the key 3 merely by being secured at the center of its length to the carriage 20 by means of a screw 23 whereby, when the latter and the clamping screw 27 are tightened, the adjusting key 3 will be bent similarly as described with reference to the line A in FIG. 2 and the end portions of key 3 will be separated from the fixed guide block 21 by a clearance S, while the guide surfaces 1] on the bearing parts 17 will be separated from guide block 21 by a clearance S, if any, and the bearing parts 17 will be separated from the carriage 20 by a clearance S".

The third embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a fixed guide block 2", a carriage 1" which is slidable thereon, and between these two elements an adjusting key 3" which id divided into two sections each of which is provided with slot-shaped transverse recesses 12" and 13" in the opposite sides of this key. The ends of these two sections which face each other abut against separate stop pins 29, and each of these sections may be pressed in its longitudinal direction toward its inner end and against its stop pin 29 by a screw 33 which is screwed into the outer end of the slide carriage l and the head of which acts upon the outer end of the respective key section 3" at a point laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the key.

The two sections 3" of the adjusting key are separated from each other by a pair of wedge members 30 between which a tightening wedge 31 is inserted into which a tommy screw 32 is screwed. The wedge members 30 may also be integral with the adjusting strip sections 3".

The tightening screws 33 are adjusted in accordance with the desired clearance to permit the carriage 1" to be slidable with a certain friction along the guide surface of the guide block 2". If, however, the slide carriage 1" is to be locked in a fixed position relative to the guide block 2", the tommy screw 32 is tightened, whereby an additional pressure is exerted upon the inner ends of the two. key sections 3 so as to bend or buckle the same and thereby to clamp the slide carriage 1" rigidly to the guide block 2". As soon as the tommy screw 32 is again loosened, the original adjustment of the key sections 3" by the tightening screws 33 will be reestablished and the slide carriage 1" will again be slidable relative to the guide block 2" with the same friction as prior to the locking operatron.

Although in FIG. 5 the adjusting key is divided into two separate sections 3 in order to permit the sliding carriage to be quickly'locked to and unlocked from the guide block 2", the adjusting key if made of a suitable resilient material may also be expanded or contracted by the tommy screw 32 to produce the locking or releasing effect as previously described even if the two key parts 3" are integral with each other and a conical or wedge-shaped part is inserted into a corresponding aperture which is provided substantially at the center of the length of this key.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof I wish to have it understood that is is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacent substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slidable along the other, normally fixed, element, comprising a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite directions to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key by bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance. 4

2. A device as defined in claim 1, in which the remainder of said opposite sides of said key are disposed within two parallel straight planes as long as no forces are exerted upon said key to deform the same.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, in which said key has a plurality of said transverse recesses in each of said sides so as to form at least two intermediate transverse webs which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of the open end of each of two of said recesses in the other side ofsaid key.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said pressure-exerting means are mounted on said slidable element and act upon said ends of said key at points laterally adjacent and spaced from the central axis of said key.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, in which at least a part of each end of said key has an inclined surface, said pressure-exerting means comprising a pair of clamping plates each having an inclined surface part engaging upon one of said inclined surfaces of said key, and means for mounting said clamping plates on the opposite ends of said slidable element and for tightening at least one of said plates on one end of said slidable element and for thus pressing said inclined surface parts of said clamping plates against said inclined end surfaces of said key.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, in which one of said clamping plates is removably secured to one of said ends of said slidable element and has said inclined surface adjacent to one lateral side thereof and projecting toward one end of said key so as to engage with'the inclined end surface thereof said clamping plate having a projection adjacent to the other lateral side adapted to abut against one end of said slidable element when said clamping plate is tightened by said tighten- I ing means, said clamping plate then pressing its inclined projecting surface with a lever action against said inclined end surface of said key.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said key has a longitudinal bore substantially coaxial thereto said pressureexerting means comprising a tightening screw extending through said bore and substantially transversely through said recesses.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising sealing means at least partly filling at least some of said recesses in said of said key facing said surface of said fixed element for preventing a lubricant from escaping to the outside.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said recesses in a central part of said side of said key facing said slidable element have a greater length than those in the outer parts near the ends of said key.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said pressure-v exerting means further comprise at least one locking element extending through a transverse aperture in said key intermediate and spaced at a considerable distance from its ends and also through an aperture extending transversely through said slidable element to the outer side thereof, said locking element having wedging surfaces adapted to engage upon the wall of said aperture in said key, and means on said locking element for tightening the same a said outer side of said slidable element and for thereby pressing said wedging surfaces against the wall of said key aperture so as to expand said key against said first pressure-exerting means acting upon the ends of said key, whereby as long as said locking element is tightened, said key is additionally deformed so as to lock said slidable element in a fixed position to said fixed element.

11. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said key is divided transversely into at least two sections at a considerable distance from its outer ends, said pressure-exerting means further comprising a wedging member having inclined surfaces interposed between the adjacent inner ends of said key sections, a locking screw extending from the outer side of said slidable element through a transverse bore in said slidable element ad threaded into said wedging member, and means on the outer end of said locking screw for turning said screw and for thereby drawing said wedging member against said inner ends of said key sections and for thereby wedging said key sections further apart against said first pressure-exerting means acting upon the outer ends of said key sections, whereby as long. as said wedging member is tightened by said locking screw, said key is additionally deformed so as to lock said slidable element in a fixed position to said fixed element.

12. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacent substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slideable along the other normally fixed, element, comprising, a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite directions to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint, the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, said remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed within two parallel straight planes as long as no forces are exerted upon said key to deform the same, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key by bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance, said key having a plurality of said transverse recesses in each of said sides so as to form at least two intermediate transverse webs which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of the open end of each of two of said recesses in the other side of said key, at least two of said transverse recesses being disposed adjacent to each other in a first of the two sides of said key, said adjacent recesses being spaced at a considerably distance from each other so that the intermediate part forms a solid supporting part which is not deformed when said pressure is exerted upon said ends of said key.

13. A device as defined in claim 12 in which said supporting part has a greater length than the other parts of said key which are separated from each other by transverse recesses, one side of said supporting part at the second side of said key having a plane surface facing and adapted to slide along said surface of said fixed element,

14. A device as defined in claim 13, in which said slidable side of said supporting part is likewise disposed between a pair of adjacent recesses which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than said adjacent recesses in said first side of said key, and connecting parts connecting the ends of said slidable side to the edges of the open ends of said last recesses, said connecting parts having at all times slightly inclined surfaces so that said edges are recessed from the plane of said slidable said and cannot scrape said surface of said fixed element 15. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacent substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slidable along the other, normally fixed, element, comprising a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite direction to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint, the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key be bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance, said securing means being connnected to said slidable element and to said key at a substantially central part of its length, one side of said key facing said fixed element having a pair of said recesses adjacent to and at both lateral sides of said central part, and the other side of said key facing said slidable element also having a pair of recesses adjacent to but spaced at a greater distance from said central part, said two pairs of recesses defining two intermediate webs equally spaced from said central part. 

1. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacEnt substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slidable along the other, normally fixed, element, comprising a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite directions to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key by bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, in which the remainder of said opposite sides of said key are disposed within two parallel straight planes as long as no forces are exerted upon said key to deform the same.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2, in which said key has a plurality of said transverse recesses in each of said sides so as to form at least two intermediate transverse webs which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of the open end of each of two of said recesses in the other side of said key.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said pressure-exerting means are mounted on said slidable element and act upon said ends of said key at points laterally adjacent and spaced from the central axis of said key.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, in which at least a part of each end of said key has an inclined surface, said pressure-exerting means comprising a pair of clamping plates each having an inclined surface part engaging upon one of said inclined surfaces of said key, and means for mounting said clamping plates on the opposite ends of said slidable element and for tightening at least one of said plates on one end of said slidable element and for thus pressing said inclined surface parts of said clamping plates against said inclined end surfaces of said key.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, in which one of said clamping plates is removably secured to one of said ends of said slidable element and has said inclined surface adjacent to one lateral side thereof and projecting toward one end of said key so as to engage with the inclined end surface thereof said clamping plate having a projection adjacent to the other lateral side adapted to abut against one end of said slidable element when said clamping plate is tightened by said tightening means, said clamping plate then pressing its inclined projecting surface with a lever action against said inclined end surface of said key.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said key has a longitudinal bore substantially coaxial thereto said pressure-exerting means comprising a tightening screw extending through said bore and substantially transversely through said recesses.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising sealing means at least partly filling at least some of said recesses in said of said key facing said surface of said fixed element for preventing a lubricant from escaping to the outside.
 9. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said recesses in a central part of said side of said key facing said slidable element have a greater length than those in the outer parts near the ends of said key.
 10. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said pressure-exerting means further comprise at least one locking element extending through a transverse aperture in said key intermediate and spaced at a considerable distance from its ends and also through an aperture extending transversely through said slidable element to the outer side thereof, said locking element having wedging surfaces adapted to engage upon the wall of said aperture in said key, and means on said locking element for tightening the same a said outer side of said slidable element and for thereby pressing said wedging surfaces against the wall of said key aperture so as to expand said key against said first pressure-exerting means acting upon the ends of said key, whereby as long as said locking element is tightened, said key is additionally deformed so as to lock said slidable element in a fixed position to said fixed element.
 11. A device as defined in claim 1, in which said key is divided transversely into at least two sections at a considerable distance from its outer ends, said pressure-exerting means further comprising a wedging member having inclined surfaces interposed between the adjacent inner ends of said key sections, a locking screw extending from the outer side of said slidable element through a transverse bore in said slidable element ad threaded into said wedging member, and means on the outer end of said locking screw for turning said screw and for thereby drawing said wedging member against said inner ends of said key sections and for thereby wedging said key sections further apart against said first pressure-exerting means acting upon the outer ends of said key sections, whereby as long as said wedging member is tightened by said locking screw, said key is additionally deformed so as to lock said slidable element in a fixed position to said fixed element.
 12. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacent substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slideable along the other normally fixed, element, comprising, a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite directions to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint, the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, said remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed within two parallel straight planes as long as no forces are exerted upon said key to deform the same, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key by bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance, said key having a plurality of said transverse recesses in each of said sides so as to form at least two intermediate transverse webs which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of the open end of each of two of said recesses in the other side of said key, at least two of said transverse recesses being disposed adjacent to each other in a first of the two sides of said key, said adjacent recesses being spaced at a considerably distance from each other so that the intermediate part forms a solid supporting part which is not deformed when said pressure is exerted upon said ends of said key.
 13. A device as defined in claim 12 in which said supporting part has a greater length than the other parts of said key which are separated from each other by transversE recesses, one side of said supporting part at the second side of said key having a plane surface facing and adapted to slide along said surface of said fixed element,
 14. A device as defined in claim 13, in which said slidable side of said supporting part is likewise disposed between a pair of adjacent recesses which are spaced from each other at a distance greater than said adjacent recesses in said first side of said key, and connecting parts connecting the ends of said slidable side to the edges of the open ends of said last recesses, said connecting parts having at all times slightly inclined surfaces so that said edges are recessed from the plane of said slidable said and cannot scrape said surface of said fixed element
 15. A device for adjusting the size of a bearing clearance between two adjacent substantially straight parallel surfaces of a pair of elements one of which is normally slidable along the other, normally fixed, element, comprising a striplike key disposed between said surfaces and having a pair of opposite wider sides and transverse recesses extending in opposite direction to each other from said opposite sides and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of said key, each of said recesses in one side of said key being separated from an adjacent recess in the other side by a transverse web, each of said recesses having such a depth that the material remaining between the bottom of said recess in one side and the surface of the opposite side forms a slightly resilient joint, the remainder of said opposite sides of said key being disposed at all times substantially plane and parallel to each other, means for releasably securing said key to one of said elements, and means for exerting a pressure at least upon the opposite ends of said key in opposite substantially longitudinal directions thereof so as to deform said key be bending said joints and thereby displacing said remaining outer surfaces in transverse directions relative to each other and thereby to vary the size of said bearing clearance, said securing means being connnected to said slidable element and to said key at a substantially central part of its length, one side of said key facing said fixed element having a pair of said recesses adjacent to and at both lateral sides of said central part, and the other side of said key facing said slidable element also having a pair of recesses adjacent to but spaced at a greater distance from said central part, said two pairs of recesses defining two intermediate webs equally spaced from said central part. 